vitamins benefit

VITAMINS A TO Z,SOURCES AND HEALING PROPERTIES

In order for the body to keep running smoothly,it requires an essential nutrient,ranging from disease-fighting antioxidant to bone-building heavy metals.
although one can get many of this nutrient in food supplement,they could also be found in the daily food we eat or should be eating everyday

vitamin A(RETINOL)

Vitamin A is commonly known as the vitamin needed for good eyesight. Along with promoting vision, vitamin A is also vital for regulating genes, maintaining healthy skin, supporting the immune system and producing red blood cells. Deficiencies are rare in first world countries and are largely a problem of developing countries. A vitamin A deficiency primarily causes impaired vision and increases susceptibility to infectious diseases.

There are several forms of Vitamin A that are needed by the body. These include:
Retinal – a metabolite of vitamin A required for vision.
Rentinol – the form of vitamin A that can be stored by the body and converted to retinal when needed.
Retinioc acid – a growth factor needed primarily to regulate genes.
Vitamin A Is important for vision

When we look at objects, light is reflected from the object and enters the eye, striking a tissue located in the back of the eye. This tissue is known as the retina. When light strikes the retina, retinol is converted to retinal, which is then shuttled to rods – the cells that help you to see in the dark. In rod cells, retinal binds to a protein called opsin. As a result, opsin changes shape and causes nerve impulses to be generated. These nerve impulses then carry messages to the brain regarding the objects in our visual field. Retinal is then converted back to retinol, ending the visual cycle.

A hallmark of vitamin A deficiency is night blindness – an impaired ability to see in low light conditions. This is because with a reduced availability of retinol, the nerve impulses necessary for our brain to interpret visual information are hindered.
Vitamin A Regulates Genes

Our genes hold the code for vital proteins needed to carry out the body’s day to day functions. Thus, when these proteins are needed, the genetic code needs to be transcribed. However, gene transcription is highly regulated. This includes when it occurs and how fast it occurs. The retinoic acid form of Vitamin A helps to regulate the rate of gene transcription.
Vitamin A Supports the Immune System

The skin and the lining that covers the digestive, respiratory and urinary tracts are important components of the immune system. They are your body’s first barrier against infection. The retinol form of vitamin A is responsible for maintaining the function of the cells that make up these barriers. Vitamin A is also needed for the formation and activation of white blood cells.
Vitamin A Is Important for Red Blood Cell Production

All blood cells are developed from stem cells. Vitamin A facilitates the specialization of stems into red blood cells. Vitamin A also allows iron to be incorporated into hemoglobin – the oxygen carrying component of red blood cells

Mild forms of vitamin A deficiency may cause no symptoms. However, there may still be an increased risk of developing respiratory infections and gastroenteritis, and delayed growth and bone development. There is also a risk of infertility secondary to impaired spermatogenesis, and an increased risk of miscarriage. Fatigue may present as a consequence of vitamin A deficiency anaemia.
Eye and vision: pathognomonic changes occur in the eye (usually bilateral, although may be of differing degrees):
Poor adaptation to darkness - night blindness.
Keratomalacia (thinning and ultimately ulceration of the cornea - colliquative necrosis).
Conjunctival dryness, corneal dryness, xerophthalmia.
Bitot's spots (areas of abnormal squamous cell proliferation and keratinisation of the conjunctiva, causing oval, triangular or irregular foamy patches on the white of the eye).[2]
Corneal perforation.
Blindness due to structural damage to the retina.
Skin and hair:
Dry skin, dry hair, pruritus.
Broken fingernails.
Follicular hyperkeratosis secondary to blockage of hair follicles, with plugs of keratin.
Other less specific changes include:
Keratinisation of mucous membranes.
Increased susceptibility to infection (due to impairment of the humoral and cell-mediated immunity).
Skin changes (follicular hyperkeratosis) are also common.